Detection of Polarized Millimeter and Submillimeter Emission from Sagittarius A*.

We report the detection of linear polarization from Sgr A* at 750, 850, 1350, and 2000 µm which confirms the contribution of synchrotron radiation. From the lack of polarization at longer wavelengths, it appears to arise in the millimeter/submillimeter excess. There are large position angle changes between the millimeter and submillimeter results, and these are discussed in terms of a polarized dust contribution in the submillimeter and various synchrotron models.

Magnetic field surrounding the starburst nucleus of the galaxy M82 from polarized dust emission.

Magnetic fields may play an important role in the star-formation process, especially in the central regions of 'starburst' galaxies where star formation is vigorous. But the field directions are very difficult to determine in the dense molecular gas out of which the stars form, so it has hitherto been impossible to test this hypothesis. Dust grains in interstellar clouds tend to be magnetically aligned, and it is possible to determine the alignment direction based on the polarization of optical light due to preferential extinction along the long axes of the aligned grains.

Submillimeter Polarimetry of the Protostellar Outflow Sources in Serpens with the Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array.

Submillimeter polarimetric measurements of the 850 µm dust continuum emission associated with the class 0/I protostars in the Serpens dark cloud core are presented. The data are used to infer the magnetic field morphology in the region. Dust grain alignment in accretion flows and/or outflows is also briefly considered.